Does career progression end at 50?

Over 50s say they are getting side-lined when it comes to professional training and job promotion in Luxembourg.

07.09.2012

Over 50s say they are getting side-lined when it comes to professional training and job promotion in Luxembourg.

According to a report by research body CEPS INSTEAD to probe the working conditions of staff in the senior age bracket, inequalities exist between age groups.

The report recognises that some older employees cannot be promoted because they have reached the most senior level in their field. But, at the same time, with 29 percent of seniors saying they feel held back, it suggests a reluctance by companies to invest in staff of a more advanced age.

“Seniors seem to be in a disadvantageous position because they feel less able to progress professionally because of ongoing training,” wrote report author Laetitia Hauret, adding: “Companies can be reticent about the idea of investing in their older staff because they feel they will get less of a return on their investment than they would on a younger employee.”

While the report found few substantial differences in the working conditions and perceptions between younger and older employees, one striking difference was that of salary satisfaction.

A higher proportion of employees aged over 50 (76 percent) said their salary reflected their work contribution, than their younger peers (67 percent).

This, the report author suggests, may be down to the fact that in some fields salaries increase in-line with the age and experience of an employee.

The report, entitled "Seniors and younger colleagues- do they have the same working conditions?", was drawn up using the results of a survey conducted by the Chambre des Salariés. The poll was conducted from December 2009 to January 2010 with a cross-section of the country's workforce, including residents and cross-border workers.